Letters to the editor: Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017

With reference to the Nov. 12 Brent Batten article regarding a Collier County tax increase, it seems that improving the drainage system would cost $125 million, but only about $25 million is available.

Instead of building a new stadium that will cost $80 million without taking into consideration the additional expenses generated, such as widening roads, it may now be the opportunity to reconsider this project inessential for the well-being of Collier County residents.

Letters to the Editor(Photo: NDN)

Some will argue that the stadium expense will be financed by part of the additional 1 percent added on the tourist tax. That was before Hurricane Irma hit and demonstrated that our county is not prepared to manage efficiently the aftermath of a storm.

You should always learn from your mistakes and not expect that the same will not reoccur. It can be as soon as 2018.

Redefining priorities is a step to take immediately, not some time in the future.

Last thought: the lots acquired at City Gate to build the stadium could be used to construct a new sewer plant.

Clay Collins, Naples

Weinstein’s victims wrongfully blamed

Brian Milner's remarks on how women sold their bodies and dignity to movie producer Harvey Weinstein for movie parts in return is beyond the pale. Rape by
definition is non-consensual, whatever the stakes and whatever position Weinstein enjoyed in the Hollywood power structure. How far does Milner go in blaming the victims? He's a teacher?

Gerald E. Stinson, Naples

Make medical marijuana available now

It’s clear to me that people opposing legal medical-marijuana are lucky enough to not know anyone who has needed it. Examples: Children suffering from seizures which only marijuana can alleviate; cancer patients suffering from chemotherapy-caused nausea; people suffering from various types of acute chronic pain which only marijuana can alleviate.

While opioids, other drugs and various non-drug interventions can and do help many patients, they don’t help all patients. And opioids, other drugs and surgeries present risks of addiction, death and other uncomfortable or dangerous side effects.

Studies show that marijuana helps many conditions which other drugs and treatments don’t, and without the adverse side effects.

A former cancer patient told me that the “watered-down” marijuana pills provided by his doctors didn’t help his unbearable chemotherapy-caused nausea and he was forced to buy then-illegal marijuana to cure his nausea. No one so ill should have to bear such a burden or incur such a risk; nor should his or her family.

More and more patients and their families, who know the truth, continue to fight for the right to use this relatively inexpensive and relatively harmless drug.

Florida’s citizens have spoken. It’s long overdue for our state and local governments to implement the new marijuana statute and make local dispensaries available.

Please contact your local and state legislators.

Cindy Grossman, Naples

Pass decent tax bill

I don’t know how to reach every senator and House member, but I am thinking that a few of you, just a few mind you, has enough intelligence, and I say intelligence with baited breath and apprehension, to read the Naples Daily News.

So hear me out. I am a Republican and voted the ticket a year ago. The pathetic way you fools are handling the tax situation is nauseous. You are a bunch of losers. You are clueless. My 16-year-old grandson could do a better job.

How dare you even consider delaying the corporate tax cut? We want three or four maximum tax rates. We don't need mortgage interest deductions because people don’t buy houses because they can deduct the interest. They buy houses because they want somewhere to live.

We want you to get this done now. Stop acting like morons and get the job done. That’s why we voted for you. This is your last chance. You are toast if you don’t get a decent tax bill in front of President Donald Trump by year's end.

Michael R. Adler, Fort Myers

Disheartening, disgusting, despicable

It's so disheartening to hear people who are actually quite conservative to be referred to as liberals simply because of the greed of some of the very wealthy among us.

Everyone should do their very best to be responsible for whatever endeavors they willingly partake of for themselves. This means budgeting your monies responsibly to reach your goals. It means not purchasing items you cannot afford, not having children until you are in a position to care for them appropriately without expecting other taxpayers to subsidize you in your responsibilities.

On the other hand, it's very annoying for extremely wealthy people to expect their taxes to be lowered at the expense of others working diligently at full-time jobs that simply do not pay a fair living wage because some at the top refuse to share profits at a fair and equitable rate.

It's also disgusting to hear of so many working as representatives of our government at high paying gravy jobs who simply slough off at every opportunity and really don't deserve how much they're being paid. Especially those who abuse their power by taking advantage of their mostly female underlings.

If that's not bad enough, they even further take advantage when they are exposed and proven to be guilty of an offense by having all taxpayers sharing in their legal expenses. They should be named and responsible for payment of their own transgressions and be kicked out immediately. They don't belong in our government.

Limitations of this column don't allow space to further delve into other private areas, mostly movies and entertainment areas, that are also despicable, to say the least. Maybe next letter.

Mary Storto, North Naples

Shame on politicians

Another shooting, this time in California.

Coverage in the media? Minimal to none.

Oh wait, only five people were killed. The gunman was not Muslim or black. It is much more fun to cover the scandal of Judge Roy Moore ad nauseam.

Shame on them and all politicians for doing absolutely nothing to stop these ongoing massacres.

Jane Fraser, Naples

What kind of country do we have?

What kind of country are we when we refuse to treat people with mental illnesses and instead throw them in jail? Would we do this to a family member with any other chronic illness?

To take the question further, what kind of people refuse to treat those who are sick or injured unless they bankrupt themselves? Do only the wealthy deserve medicine? Do we have a government that is of, by and for the people or just for those who can buy?

Katherine Doerr, Naples

What about presidents?

Why am I not hearing any flack about the school board forcing the children to attend class on the holiday to honor past presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln?

All I read about is the furor over having to attend school on the holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It seems to me that the decision should be all or nothing at all. The children should either attend school on both of these holidays, or not attend school on both of these holidays. It seems to me that to have one of these holidays as a day off for the children and the other a mandatory day of classes endorses favoritism and indicates that one is more important than the other. Don't think we want to go there.

Gary Bubb, Naples

Construction apprentices essential

Do you ever think about the people who built our schools, offices, bridges and roads? We do.

National Apprenticeship week was Nov. 13-17. The White House, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor, declared this week to showcase programs that connect skilled workers to great careers.

Associated Builders and Contractors is Florida’s leading apprenticeship trainer, creating opportunities for Americans to access the fantastic careers in the construction industry.

There are 500,000 jobs in the American Construction Industry waiting to be filled. Many people think anyone can do these jobs, when in reality, it takes training, dedication and perseverance. Apprenticeship programs in America train 476,000 people. Their commitment to learning new skills makes our offices, homes, stores, venues and other structures safe, sound and strong. They’re working to fix our roads, build our airports, as well as fix damage and helped restore power after storms like Hurricane Irma.

Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter’s Institute is proud to work alongside those who want to make a difference in the everyday lives of complete strangers. These apprentices want to ensure that their training is done properly. They put in long, harsh, outdoor and evening hours to help fuel the labor shortage. As you drive along the highway, past construction sites and walk into your office buildings, know that those who helped get you there put in the work they know they needed to get the job done.

Russian President Vladimir Putin denies Russia attacked the U.S. President Donald Trump agrees with Putin.

In fact, Donald Trump Jr., Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner were offered dirt on Hillary Clinton in June 2016 and were told in an email from Russian agents: "This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr. Trump." Donald Trump Jr. replied: "I love it."

Nine members of the Trump campaign, including Trump, met with Russian officials at least 18 times prior to the election and every single one of them was untruthful about it.

This is far beyond collusion as it is clear Putin has blackmail information or kompromat (compromising material) on Trump. This is Treasongate.

Conservative letter writers never mention Russia except to mindlessly repeat, "Hillary sold 20 percent of U.S. uranium to Russia," which has been debunked by every fact checker.

First, how do you twist and distort nine federal agencies approving the deal into "Hillary" did it? Huh?

Second, how do you twist and distort the lie that Hillary Clinton "sold" uranium to Russia when not one ounce of uranium was sold to Russia? It's illegal for a company in the U.S. to sell uranium to a foreign country. Gee, Russian television D/B/A Fox News nor Sputnik right-wing radio ever mentioned these facts to the Russia-excusing deplorables.

If you object to National Football League players peacefully protesting racism while you defend a president who sides with Putin over his own country, you are taking a knee to America.